MRC Network March/April 2009
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News from the Medical Research Council March / April 2009 Developing the drugs of the future The MRCT Centre for Therapeutic Discovery page 2 Profile: The Gray Institute for Radiation, Oncology and Biology, Oxford page 10 3 MARCH/APRIL 2009 Update from CONTENTS Developing the the MRC Chief drugs of the future Executive 03 Update from the MRC Chief Executive A new centre that will speed the discovery and Sir Leszek Borysiewicz added: “This centre of national Theannouncement 04 Opening a window on development of drugs in the UK has been established excellence, in forming partnerships with academia, will that a UK Centre for MRC research provide a focus of knowledge and expertise. The initiative TherapeuticDiscovery in London, jointly funded by the MRC and MRC has been created, led by 05 Industry update will benefit patients in the UK and around the world. It Technology. will also support innovation and provide a training ground MRCTechnology,isvery 06 Securing skills today for for the next generation of scientists across Britain. It is welcome news in this time tomorrow’s scientists The MRCT Centre for Therapeutic Discovery launched in April, will these types of projects which represent the seed corn of of economic turmoil. I was heartened to take advantage of the UK’s high quality academic research to discover the future UK economy by enhancing the UK’s leadership hear the Prime Minister’s recent comments that 10 Profile:TheGray and develop drugs for areas of unmet need. Using state-of-the-art the economy needs to shift from its dependence Institute for Radiation, position in the scientific and technical disciplines of early computational and medicinal chemistry it will produce drug-like molecules on financial services towards science and Oncology and Biology, stage medicine discovery.” Oxford with potential to become treatments. New antibody therapies will also be technology. Investment in the UK’s scientific developed by the centre, taking advantage of MRC Technology’s expertise Dr Justin Bryans, Director of Drug Discovery at MRC excellence is crucial now, perhaps more than ever 16 MRC People in ‘humanising’ antibodies - the process of genetically modifying rodent Technology, explained that the centre will provide “a forum before, because it is the key to economic recovery. antibodies to make them more like human ones. 18 Hopping across for education and training in the field of medicines research”, disciplines solves creating skilled jobs in medicinal chemistry and bioscience. Moving forward, a broad discussion is needed research puzzle MRC Technology’s CEO, Dr David Tapolczay, explained: “For the first time, involving research funders, the Government and UK academics will have a dedicated centre with which to collaborate “Partnering our products with pharmaceutical and the public, about the areas in which we’re likely to and progress their science to deliver tangible clinical benefit. In so doing, biotechnology companies worldwide will increase the value be most successful. Research funding is a balancing this initiative will help the UK to retain its world-leading reputation for of the basic research that we support,” he added. act between investment in ‘blue skies’ research innovation in drug discovery.” and applied research for which the outcome is The centre has an annual operating budget of £6 more visible from the outset. Both are absolutely The aim of the centre is to build on the capabilities and research capacity million, secured from a range of sources including MRC essential because if we don’t support new ideas in of the MRCT Drug Discovery Group. This will provide the UK with translational funding. It will commercialise its products, but all disciplines, very soon nothing is left to translate a national drug discovery resource which has the critical mass to be profits will be re-invested. downstream. And we need excellence in a whole globally competitive. It will establish partnerships with academic scientists range of disciplines in order to make real advances. and industry to take the research towards clinical benefit. For example, on page 18, you can read about a successful interdisciplinary collaboration which has offered unexpected new insights into cancer. Representatives from the research community met late last year to agree a set of health research opportunities for the UK that target the biggest and most important health challenges we are likely to face over the next decade. This spring we are consulting academic and clinical stakeholders about these research opportunities before they are considered by the OSCHR Board. You can read about the outputs of this meeting on our website ( www.mrc.ac.uk/healthresearch) and contribute to this important discussion by sending us your comments and views – I look forward to hearing them. Sir Leszek Borysiewicz 5 Opening a window INDUSTRY on MRC research UPDATE Bridging the academic-commercial divide facilities offered by companies. Students also gain an awareness of the drug discovery and development Forthefirsttimeever,researchersand Each research project shows a financial value, but it The MRC is putting renewed effort into forging links process and an insight into the some of the scientific between academia and industry this year, with a £3.2 challenges that pharmaceutical companies face.” the public can get a clear picture of the is important to stress that these figures cannot be million investment to create 45 new Industrial CASE research that the MRC funds through a compared across different project types. studentships. Peter Dukes, the MRC’s Head of Research Awards, new interactive online web resource. added: “CASE students act as a bridge, opening up the Tony Peatfield, MRC Senior Responsible Officer The studentships support multi-disciplinary research perspectives of their MRC supervisors and colleagues The MRC Research Portfolio (www.mrc.ac.uk/ for the portfolio, explained: “It’s important to note training projects between industry and academia. to the priorities that drive research in industry and researchportfolio) allows anyone to view research that for grants or fellowships the sum shown is the Students are based at the participating academic increasing opportunities for the translation of research.” currently being funded by the MRC, as well as any whole-life-value, but for a unit/institute programme institution, but spend a minimum of six months at a research projects that have been completed since or partnership/contribution the figure denotes company, learning about how commercial research This year’s CASE intake begins in October 2009 and 1 April 2008. Visitors to the website can find out annual spend. There are also important differences in works and also gaining business-related training in, for will focus on in vivo research. More information on the exactly what research is underway, who is doing it, the funding structures, so these figures can include example, project management or business strategy. scheme is at: and roughly how much money is being spent on it. different components. The financial information www.mrc.ac.uk/Fundingopportunities/Studentships/ shown online is intended as an overview. If users have The studentships focus on building up the research IndustrialCASE/MRC004608 One of the aims of the MRC Research Portfolio is to a specific question about the financial value of what workforce in new or growing areas of science, giving increase the MRC’s accountability and transparency in is being funded in a particular area of science they students a taste of the advanced skills and technologies its use of public funds. should contact the MRC at corporate@headoffice. in industry, and giving them a feel for industry’s mrc.ac.uk to discuss their requirements.” competitive environment. Companies also benefit John Jeans, MRC Chief Operating Officer and from the scheme, gaining from the MRC’s research Deputy Chief Executive, said: “This is a really exciting The MRC Research Portfolio can be found at: excellence, and getting new ideas and insights. development for the MRC. We are keen to throw www.mrc.ac.uk/researchportfolio open the doors on our research and show the Companies involved in the scheme in last year’s public exactly what research their money is funding. intake included Pfizer, Wyeth, GlaxoSmithKline, The portfolio also gives the UK research community UCB Celltech and AstraZeneca. an insight into our research so that they can position AstraZeneca’s Jackie Wilbraham, who is a themselves according to the work that others member of the assessment panel for CASE, is are doing.” enthusiastic about the scheme: “These studentships give students a valuable opportunity to undertake The portfolio contains information on programmes part of their research in the world class research and projects across the whole spectrum of MRC research – from research programmes in institutes, units and centres, to individual project grants and fellowships. Users can browse the portfolio by grant type, status, principal investigator and research organisation, or search the system using key words. Search results can also be filtered, so that users can select the most relevant information. 7 partner institutions. New-blood lecturers and academic Engaging the wider community fellows have been recruited. These include a Pfizer- Informing the wider research community and the public Securing skills today for sponsored Chair in Integrative Biomedicine and ‘3Rs’ about the importance of animal-based research is another lecturer at King’s College, enhancing